US2623007A - Catalytic desulfurization of hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Catalytic desulfurization of hydrocarbons Download PDF

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US2623007A
US2623007A US113250A US11325049A US2623007A US 2623007 A US2623007 A US 2623007A US 113250 A US113250 A US 113250A US 11325049 A US11325049 A US 11325049A US 2623007 A US2623007 A US 2623007A
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catalyst
sulfur
hydrocarbon
chromia
alumina
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John W Myers
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Phillips Petroleum Co
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    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10GCRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G45/00Refining of hydrocarbon oils using hydrogen or hydrogen-generating compounds
    • C10G45/02Refining of hydrocarbon oils using hydrogen or hydrogen-generating compounds to eliminate hetero atoms without changing the skeleton of the hydrocarbon involved and without cracking into lower boiling hydrocarbons; Hydrofinishing
    • C10G45/04Refining of hydrocarbon oils using hydrogen or hydrogen-generating compounds to eliminate hetero atoms without changing the skeleton of the hydrocarbon involved and without cracking into lower boiling hydrocarbons; Hydrofinishing characterised by the catalyst used
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B01PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
    • B01JCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS
    • B01J21/00Catalysts comprising the elements, oxides, or hydroxides of magnesium, boron, aluminium, carbon, silicon, titanium, zirconium, or hafnium
    • B01J21/16Clays or other mineral silicates
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10GCRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
    • C10G29/00Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, with other chemicals
    • C10G29/16Metal oxides

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a process for desulfurizing a hydrocarbon in the presence of a chromiaalumina catalyst. In another of its aspects, this invention relates to a process for desulfurizing a hydrocarbon in the presence of a chromia-alumina-beryllia catalyst. In yet another of its aspects, this invention relates to a process for pretreating a chromia-alumina catalyst or a chromia-alumina-beryllia catalyst to increase its desulfurization efficiency and activity.
  • 'Most petroleum fractions contain more or less sulfur which ordinarily is present principally in the form of organic sulfur compounds comprising, in addition to minor amounts of hydrogen sulfide, such hydrocarbon sulfur derivatives as mercaptans, thioethers, thiophenes, thiophanes, etc.
  • This class of sulfur compounds is generally objectionable on account of bad odor and also generally on account of corrosive tendencies either before or after combustion in internal combustion engines. Since it is common to desulfurize hydrocarbons containing high concentrations of sulfur compounds, say as much as 12%, it is important to secure a catalyst for the desulfurization reaction which will achieve a reduction of such large amounts of sulfur compounds below a desired maximum concentration.
  • a hydrocarbon containing an organic sulfur compound can be efiiciently desulfurized in a single pass process by contacting it at an elevated temperature with a chromia-alumina catalyst. Still according to this invention, it has been found that such a hydrocarbon can be efliciently desulfurized in a single pass process by contacting it at an elevated temperature with a chromia-alumina catalyst containing minor amonuts of beryllia.
  • pretreating a chromia-alumina catalyst, or a chromiaalumina catalyst containing minor amounts of beryllia, with a hydrocarbon sulfur compound will greatly increase its desulfurization efficiency whereby the residual unconverted sulfur remaining in subsequently treated hydrocarbons will be much less than that remaining when employing such a catalyst which has not been pretreated.
  • a hydrocarbon which is to be desulfurized is contacted at an elevated temperature with a catalyst comprising chromia-alumina or, more preferably, with a chromia-alumina catalyst containing minor amounts of beryllia.
  • the catalyst is pretreated at an elevated temperature with a hydrocarbon sulfur compound whereby the catalytic efliciency of the catalyst is greatly improved and a hydrocarbon desulfurized in the presence of such a pretreated catalyst has a sulfur content substantially less than that achieved when employing the untreated catalyst.
  • chromia-alumina and chromia-alumina-beryllia catalysts are operative to effect desulfurization of hydrocarbon streams containing organic sulfur compounds and that with this information one skilled in the art can readily determine the conditions required by mere routine test.
  • the hydrocarbons to be desulfurized can comprise any refinery fraction which it is desired to treat, including such light hydrocarbons as butane, pentane, hexane, etc. as well as motor fuel cuts, cracking stocks, etc.
  • the fraction to be treated is normally liquid, it is preferable, although not essential, to treat the fraction in the vapor phase.
  • the temperature employed in the process of this invention depends on the stock being treated, the time of contact with the catalyst of the hydrocarbons to be desulfurized and upon other conditions such as pressure, sulfur content of feed, etc. Usually a temperature between 500 and 1300 F., preferably between 700 and 1100 F., and still more preferably between 750 and 1025 F., is employed. The exact operating temperature can readily be determined under any given set of conditions by mere routine test.
  • the pressure employed in the process is not critical and can range from 1 to 100 atmospheres, preferably from 1 to 10 atmospheres. It is ordinarily preferable, although not absolutely essential, to employ a pressure such that vapor phase conditions will obtain at the selected operating temperature.
  • the space velocity of the sulfur containing hydrocarbons contacting the catalyst is sufficient to secure adequate contact time therewith.
  • the space velocity can range from about 0.1 to about liquid volumes of hydrocarbons per volume of catalyst per hour, preferably from about 0.5 to 5 volumes per volume of catalyst per hour.
  • Hydrocarbon feeds containing large amounts of sulfur compounds will ordinarily require longer periods of contact with the catalyst than those with only small amounts of sulfur compounds.
  • the space velocity depends somewhat on the temperature employed, being higher for high temperatures than it is for low temperatures. In any event, the optimum space velocity can be determined by mere routine test.
  • the catalyst employed in the process of this invention is chromia-alumina or, more preferably, chromia-alumina containing small amounts of beryllia.
  • the chromia-alumina catalyst of this invention is comprised of about to about 50 per cent chromia and about 70 to about 50 per cent alumina; preferably from about to about per cent chromia and about 65 to about per cent alumina.
  • a preferred chromia-alumina-beryllia catalyst of this invention is comprised of 30 to 50 per cent chromia, 32 to 66 per cent alumina and 4 to 18 per cent beryllia; more preferably, the catalyst is comprised of about 35 to 45 per cent chromia, 4:3 to 59 per cent alumina nd 9 1. 1 cent beryllia; still mor preferably th catalyst is comprised of about 0 per cent chromia, about 50 per cent alumina and about 10 per cent beryllia.
  • the most efiicient chromia-alumina-beryllia catalyst is comprised of a major portion of alumina, a slightly smaller portion of chromia and a minor portion of beryllia.
  • the catalysts used in the process of this invention may be prepared by procedures known in the art.
  • a mixture of the nitrates or other soluble salts of aluminum, chromium and beryllium in aqueous solution may be treated with an alkaline reagent, preferably ammonium hydroxide, to precipitate a mixture of the hydrous oxides.
  • the hydrous oxides are recovered by filtration, dried, and ignited to the oxides.
  • Another procedure comprises preparation of the hydrous oxides separately and subsequent mixing, drying and ignition.
  • the hydrosol of each hydrous oxide is prepared; the 'hydrosols are mixed and are converted to the hydrogels, which are subsequently converted to the oxides.
  • Other known preparation methods may be used.
  • the final catalyst may be used in the form of pellets or fragments for fixed bed operation or may be used in the form of a powder for fluidized catalyst operation.
  • Hydrogen can be admixed with the hydrocarbon to be desulfurized prior to its desulfurization in order to still further increase the desulfurization efficiency of the process.
  • the amount of hydrogen introduced from outside sources will depend upon the amount of free hydrogen, if any, already present in the vapors and upon the character of the hydrocarbons and particularly upon the form of combination of the sulfur.
  • the sulfur derivatives in which the sulfur atom is a member of a heterocyclic ring are the most difiicultly decomposable and larger amounts of hydrogen along with the more efl'lcient catalysts will be necessary when the oils contain high percentages of such compounds which include thiophene and its derivatives and homologs.
  • hydrogen in the amount of 0.1 to 10, preferably 0.5 to 4, mols per mol of hydrocarbon is satisfactory.
  • the catalytic desulfurization emciency of a chromia-alumina or of a chromiaalum'ina-beryllia catalyst can be greatly increased by pretreating the catalyst with a hydrocarbon sulfur compound before employing it in desulfurizing the regular hydrocarbon stocks.
  • the residual sulfur content of the desulfurized hydrocarbon will usually be less than 50 per cent of the sulfur content of the same hydrocarbon which has been desulfurized with a non-pretreated catalyst.
  • pretreating the catalysts of this invention a hydrocarbon sulfur compound is contacted at an elevated temperature with the catalyst to be pretreated for a period of time sufficient to increase the desulfurization activity of the catalyst to a maximum.
  • the hydrocarbon sulfur compounds employed to pretreat the catalysts of this invention can be mercaptans, thiophenes, thiophanes, etc. It is usually desirable to dilute these sulfur compounds with other compounds such as hydrocarbons, e. g. naphtha, and/or nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, etc.
  • the pretreating agent can be synthetically prepared.
  • a natural hydrocarbon stock containing hydrocarbon sulfur compounds be employed to pretreat the catalyst and that this stock be comprised of an ordinary sulfur containing hydrocarbon fraction such as a sour motor fuel, cracked distillate, etc., thereby avoiding the preparation of a special agent with which to pretreat the catalyst. It is still more preferable to employ in the pretreating step a hydrocarbon fraction which contains a higher sulfur content than the hydrocarbon fraction (containing 0.0005 to 12% sulfur) ordinarily desulfurized. Hydrocarbon fractions having a sulfur content between 0.0005 and 3 weight per cent, preferably between 0.05 and 0.5 weight per cent, are satisfactory.
  • the conditions employed will depend on the type of sulfur compound used, the type of material used as a diluent, the concentration of sulfur compounds, etc.
  • the pretreatment conditions can be substantially within the same range as those described above for the ordinary desulfurization of hydrocarbons after the pretreating step except that the pretreating time is usually from 0.2 to 15, preferably from 0.5 to 5, hours depending on other conditions employed and the degree of increased catalytic efiiciency desired.
  • pretreatment with a high concentration of sulfur compounds requires a short pretreating period and, hence, it is often advantageous to employ a pretreating mixture of high sulfur content.
  • the activity decreases as a result of carbon deposition on the surface.
  • the catalyst is then reactivated by treatment with an oxygen containing gas at an elevated temperature to burn off the carbonaceous deposit.
  • the oxidative regeneration is preferably followed by activation with an organic sulfur compound as previously described.
  • the hydrocarbon feed is contacted with sodium hydroxide solution or with an alk-anolamine reagent to remove hydrogen sulfide.
  • chromia, alumina and beryllia have been used herein, they are used to denote the oxides of chromium, aluminum and beryllium, respectively, as such oxides usually exist in a catalytic composition.
  • a hydrocarbon can be efhciently desulfurized in the presence of a chromia-alumina catalyst or, more preferably, a chromia-alumina catalyst containing minor amounts of beryllia and that the desuliurization efficiency of these catalysts can be substantially increased by pretreatment with a hydrocarbon sulfur compound.
  • a desulfurization catalyst consisting essentially of 30-50% by weight chromia, 32-60% by Weight alumina, and 4-18% by weight beryllia
  • the improvement which consists pretreating said catalyst by contacting said catalyst at an elevated temperature with a vaporized treating material consisting essentially of a sulfur-containing compound selected from the group consisting of mercaptans, thiophenes and thiophanes and subsequently contacting said catalyst with said hydrocarbon fraction to be desulfurized.
  • a desulfurization catalyst consisting essentially of 30-50% by Weight chromia, 32-60% by weight alumina, and 41-18% by weight beryllia the improvement which consists pretreating said catalyst by contacting said catalyst for a period of time within the range 0.2 to 15 hours at a ternperature in the range 500-1800 R, at a pressure in the range 1-100 atmospheres with a vaporized mixture consisting essentially of a sulfur-containing compound selected from the group consisting of mercaptans, thiophenes and thiophanes and containing as a diluent therein a gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, said mixture containing 0.0005 to 12% by weight sulfur, and subsequently contacting said catalyst with said hydrocarbon fraction to be desulfurized.
  • a vaporized mixture consisting essentially of a sulfur-containing compound selected from the group consisting of mercaptans, thiophenes and thiophenes and containing as a diluent therein hydrogen, said mixture containing 0.0005 to 12% by weight sulfur and subsequently contacting said catalyst with said hydrocarbon fraction to be desulfuriaed.
  • sulfur-containing compound selected from the group consisting of mercaptans, thiophenes and thiophanes and containing as a diluent therein a gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, said mixture containing 0.0005 to 12% by weight sulfur, and subsequently contacting said catalyst with said hydrocarbon fraction to be desulfurized.

Description

Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED CATALYTIC DESULFURIZATION 0F HYDROCARBONS John W. Myers, Bartlesville, Okla, assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application August 30, 1949, Serial No. 113,250
4 Claims.
This invention relates to a process for desulfurizing a hydrocarbon in the presence of a chromiaalumina catalyst. In another of its aspects, this invention relates to a process for desulfurizing a hydrocarbon in the presence of a chromia-alumina-beryllia catalyst. In yet another of its aspects, this invention relates to a process for pretreating a chromia-alumina catalyst or a chromia-alumina-beryllia catalyst to increase its desulfurization efficiency and activity.
'Most petroleum fractions contain more or less sulfur which ordinarily is present principally in the form of organic sulfur compounds comprising, in addition to minor amounts of hydrogen sulfide, such hydrocarbon sulfur derivatives as mercaptans, thioethers, thiophenes, thiophanes, etc. This class of sulfur compounds is generally objectionable on account of bad odor and also generally on account of corrosive tendencies either before or after combustion in internal combustion engines. Since it is common to desulfurize hydrocarbons containing high concentrations of sulfur compounds, say as much as 12%, it is important to secure a catalyst for the desulfurization reaction which will achieve a reduction of such large amounts of sulfur compounds below a desired maximum concentration. However, it is still more important to secure a catalyst which will emciently catalyze the reduction of the sulfur content of a hydrocarbon stock containing very small amounts of sulfur, say less than 0.5%, to less than a maximum amount without incurring excessive treating costs inherent in multi-cycle catalytic desulfurization processes or in combination catalytic and chemical adsorption desulfurization processes. Furthermore, it is important that such catalyst possess a high degree of desulfurization efficiency and activity as well as a long catalyst life so that the treating costs of the hydrocarbons being desulfurized will be at a minimum figure.
According to this invention, it has been found that a hydrocarbon containing an organic sulfur compound can be efiiciently desulfurized in a single pass process by contacting it at an elevated temperature with a chromia-alumina catalyst. Still according to this invention, it has been found that such a hydrocarbon can be efliciently desulfurized in a single pass process by contacting it at an elevated temperature with a chromia-alumina catalyst containing minor amonuts of beryllia. Still further according to this invention, it has been found that pretreating a chromia-alumina catalyst, or a chromiaalumina catalyst containing minor amounts of beryllia, with a hydrocarbon sulfur compound will greatly increase its desulfurization efficiency whereby the residual unconverted sulfur remaining in subsequently treated hydrocarbons will be much less than that remaining when employing such a catalyst which has not been pretreated.
Thus, according to this invention, a hydrocarbon which is to be desulfurized is contacted at an elevated temperature with a catalyst comprising chromia-alumina or, more preferably, with a chromia-alumina catalyst containing minor amounts of beryllia. Preferably, the catalyst is pretreated at an elevated temperature with a hydrocarbon sulfur compound whereby the catalytic efliciency of the catalyst is greatly improved and a hydrocarbon desulfurized in the presence of such a pretreated catalyst has a sulfur content substantially less than that achieved when employing the untreated catalyst.
Having set forth the invention, it will be more fully described now in its applied form, it being obvious, in any event, from the foregoing disclosure that chromia-alumina and chromia-alumina-beryllia catalysts are operative to effect desulfurization of hydrocarbon streams containing organic sulfur compounds and that with this information one skilled in the art can readily determine the conditions required by mere routine test.
The hydrocarbons to be desulfurized can comprise any refinery fraction which it is desired to treat, including such light hydrocarbons as butane, pentane, hexane, etc. as well as motor fuel cuts, cracking stocks, etc. When the fraction to be treated is normally liquid, it is preferable, although not essential, to treat the fraction in the vapor phase.
The temperature employed in the process of this invention depends on the stock being treated, the time of contact with the catalyst of the hydrocarbons to be desulfurized and upon other conditions such as pressure, sulfur content of feed, etc. Usually a temperature between 500 and 1300 F., preferably between 700 and 1100 F., and still more preferably between 750 and 1025 F., is employed. The exact operating temperature can readily be determined under any given set of conditions by mere routine test.
The pressure employed in the process is not critical and can range from 1 to 100 atmospheres, preferably from 1 to 10 atmospheres. It is ordinarily preferable, although not absolutely essential, to employ a pressure such that vapor phase conditions will obtain at the selected operating temperature.
The space velocity of the sulfur containing hydrocarbons contacting the catalyst is sufficient to secure adequate contact time therewith. Usually the space velocity can range from about 0.1 to about liquid volumes of hydrocarbons per volume of catalyst per hour, preferably from about 0.5 to 5 volumes per volume of catalyst per hour. Hydrocarbon feeds containing large amounts of sulfur compounds will ordinarily require longer periods of contact with the catalyst than those with only small amounts of sulfur compounds. Also, the space velocity depends somewhat on the temperature employed, being higher for high temperatures than it is for low temperatures. In any event, the optimum space velocity can be determined by mere routine test.
The catalyst employed in the process of this invention is chromia-alumina or, more preferably, chromia-alumina containing small amounts of beryllia. The chromia-alumina catalyst of this invention is comprised of about to about 50 per cent chromia and about 70 to about 50 per cent alumina; preferably from about to about per cent chromia and about 65 to about per cent alumina. A preferred chromia-alumina-beryllia catalyst of this invention is comprised of 30 to 50 per cent chromia, 32 to 66 per cent alumina and 4 to 18 per cent beryllia; more preferably, the catalyst is comprised of about 35 to 45 per cent chromia, 4:3 to 59 per cent alumina nd 9 1. 1 cent beryllia; still mor preferably th catalyst is comprised of about 0 per cent chromia, about 50 per cent alumina and about 10 per cent beryllia. Genera-ily, the most efiicient chromia-alumina-beryllia catalyst is comprised of a major portion of alumina, a slightly smaller portion of chromia and a minor portion of beryllia.
The catalysts used in the process of this invention may be prepared by procedures known in the art. A mixture of the nitrates or other soluble salts of aluminum, chromium and beryllium in aqueous solution may be treated with an alkaline reagent, preferably ammonium hydroxide, to precipitate a mixture of the hydrous oxides. The hydrous oxides are recovered by filtration, dried, and ignited to the oxides. Another procedure comprises preparation of the hydrous oxides separately and subsequent mixing, drying and ignition. In another procedure the hydrosol of each hydrous oxide is prepared; the 'hydrosols are mixed and are converted to the hydrogels, which are subsequently converted to the oxides. Other known preparation methods may be used. The final catalyst may be used in the form of pellets or fragments for fixed bed operation or may be used in the form of a powder for fluidized catalyst operation.
Hydrogen can be admixed with the hydrocarbon to be desulfurized prior to its desulfurization in order to still further increase the desulfurization efficiency of the process. The amount of hydrogen introduced from outside sources will depend upon the amount of free hydrogen, if any, already present in the vapors and upon the character of the hydrocarbons and particularly upon the form of combination of the sulfur. As a general rule, the sulfur derivatives in which the sulfur atom is a member of a heterocyclic ring are the most difiicultly decomposable and larger amounts of hydrogen along with the more efl'lcient catalysts will be necessary when the oils contain high percentages of such compounds which include thiophene and its derivatives and homologs. Usually, hydrogen in the amount of 0.1 to 10, preferably 0.5 to 4, mols per mol of hydrocarbon is satisfactory.
It is an important feature of the present invention that the catalytic desulfurization emciency of a chromia-alumina or of a chromiaalum'ina-beryllia catalyst can be greatly increased by pretreating the catalyst with a hydrocarbon sulfur compound before employing it in desulfurizing the regular hydrocarbon stocks. When employing such a pretreated catalyst, the residual sulfur content of the desulfurized hydrocarbon will usually be less than 50 per cent of the sulfur content of the same hydrocarbon which has been desulfurized with a non-pretreated catalyst. In pretreating the catalysts of this invention, a hydrocarbon sulfur compound is contacted at an elevated temperature with the catalyst to be pretreated for a period of time sufficient to increase the desulfurization activity of the catalyst to a maximum. The hydrocarbon sulfur compounds employed to pretreat the catalysts of this invention can be mercaptans, thiophenes, thiophanes, etc. It is usually desirable to dilute these sulfur compounds with other compounds such as hydrocarbons, e. g. naphtha, and/or nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, etc. Thus, the pretreating agent can be synthetically prepared. However, it is prefer-red that a natural hydrocarbon stock containing hydrocarbon sulfur compounds be employed to pretreat the catalyst and that this stock be comprised of an ordinary sulfur containing hydrocarbon fraction such as a sour motor fuel, cracked distillate, etc., thereby avoiding the preparation of a special agent with which to pretreat the catalyst. It is still more preferable to employ in the pretreating step a hydrocarbon fraction which contains a higher sulfur content than the hydrocarbon fraction (containing 0.0005 to 12% sulfur) ordinarily desulfurized. Hydrocarbon fractions having a sulfur content between 0.0005 and 3 weight per cent, preferably between 0.05 and 0.5 weight per cent, are satisfactory.
In the pretreating step, the conditions employed will depend on the type of sulfur compound used, the type of material used as a diluent, the concentration of sulfur compounds, etc. Generally, the pretreatment conditions can be substantially within the same range as those described above for the ordinary desulfurization of hydrocarbons after the pretreating step except that the pretreating time is usually from 0.2 to 15, preferably from 0.5 to 5, hours depending on other conditions employed and the degree of increased catalytic efiiciency desired. Ordinarily, pretreatment with a high concentration of sulfur compounds requires a short pretreating period and, hence, it is often advantageous to employ a pretreating mixture of high sulfur content.
After the catalyst has been in use for an extended period of time, the activity decreases as a result of carbon deposition on the surface. The catalyst is then reactivated by treatment with an oxygen containing gas at an elevated temperature to burn off the carbonaceous deposit. The oxidative regeneration is preferably followed by activation with an organic sulfur compound as previously described.
After contact with the desulfurization catalyst, the hydrocarbon feed is contacted with sodium hydroxide solution or with an alk-anolamine reagent to remove hydrogen sulfide.
Example Test number 1 2 3 Conditions of treatment:
Temperature, F 754 909 1,013 Pressure, atmospheres absolute 1 21 1 Space velocity of mixture, liquid volumes per volume of catalyst per hour 3 1 2. 7 3.0 Hydrogen diluent, mols of hydrogen per mol of hydrocarbon 0 2 2 {length of first period, hours 3. 7 4. 4 4. 2 Sulfur content of products from first period 0. 0048 0 0079 0. 0085 Length of second period, hours 6 4-. 4 4. 0 Sulfur content of products from second period 0. 0028 0 0016 0.0031 Total material deposited on the catalyst during both periods, weight per cent of the hydrocarbon-sulfur compound mixture passed over the catalyst 0. 09 0. 03 0. 2::
These data show that in all three experiments, at different operating conditions, the sulfur content of the liquid products was lower after the first period which served as a pretreating period for the catalyst.
It is to be understood that wherever the terms chromia, alumina and beryllia have been used herein, they are used to denote the oxides of chromium, aluminum and beryllium, respectively, as such oxides usually exist in a catalytic composition.
Variation and modification are possible within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims to the invention the essence of which is that a hydrocarbon can be efhciently desulfurized in the presence of a chromia-alumina catalyst or, more preferably, a chromia-alumina catalyst containing minor amounts of beryllia and that the desuliurization efficiency of these catalysts can be substantially increased by pretreatment with a hydrocarbon sulfur compound.
I claim:
1. In a process for the catalytic desulfurization of a hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of a desulfurization catalyst consisting essentially of 30-50% by weight chromia, 32-60% by Weight alumina, and 4-18% by weight beryllia, the improvement which consists pretreating said catalyst by contacting said catalyst at an elevated temperature with a vaporized treating material consisting essentially of a sulfur-containing compound selected from the group consisting of mercaptans, thiophenes and thiophanes and subsequently contacting said catalyst with said hydrocarbon fraction to be desulfurized.
2. In a process for the catalytic desulfurization of a hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of a desulfurization catalyst consisting essentially of 30-50% by Weight chromia, 32-60% by weight alumina, and 41-18% by weight beryllia the improvement which consists pretreating said catalyst by contacting said catalyst for a period of time within the range 0.2 to 15 hours at a ternperature in the range 500-1800 R, at a pressure in the range 1-100 atmospheres with a vaporized mixture consisting essentially of a sulfur-containing compound selected from the group consisting of mercaptans, thiophenes and thiophanes and containing as a diluent therein a gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, said mixture containing 0.0005 to 12% by weight sulfur, and subsequently contacting said catalyst with said hydrocarbon fraction to be desulfurized.
3. In a process for the catalytic desuliurization of a hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of a desulfurization catalyst consisting essentially 30-50% by weight chromia, 82-50% by weight alumina, and 448% by weight beryllia, the improvement which consists pretreating said catalyst by contacting said catalyst for a period of time within the range 0.2 to 15 hours at a temperature in the range 500-1300" F. at a pressure in the range 1-100 atmospheres with a vaporized mixture consisting essentially of a sulfur-containing compound selected from the group consisting of mercaptans, thiophenes and thiophenes and containing as a diluent therein hydrogen, said mixture containing 0.0005 to 12% by weight sulfur and subsequently contacting said catalyst with said hydrocarbon fraction to be desulfuriaed.
4. In a process for the catalytic desulfurization of a hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of a desulfurization catalyst consisting essentially of 40% by weight chromia, by weight alumina and 10% by weight beryllia the improvement which consists pretreating said catalyst by contacting said catalyst for a period of time within the range 0.2 to 15 hours at a temperature in the range 500-1300 F. at a pressure in the range 1-100 atmospheres with a vaporized mixture consisting essentially of a. sulfur-containing compound selected from the group consisting of mercaptans, thiophenes and thiophanes and containing as a diluent therein a gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, said mixture containing 0.0005 to 12% by weight sulfur, and subsequently contacting said catalyst with said hydrocarbon fraction to be desulfurized.
JOHN W. IMYERS.
REFERENGES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,301,802 Burk et al Nov. 10, 1242 2,325,911 Huffman Aug. 3, 1943 2,411,829 Huffman Nov. 26, 19% 2,426,118 Parker et al Aug. 19, 194'? 2,486,361 Nahin Oct. 25, 1949 2,498,559 Layng et a1. Feb. 21, 1950 2.536-085 Pitzer Jan. 2. 1951

Claims (1)

1. IN THE PROCESS FOR THE CATALYTIC DESULFURIZATION OF A HYDROCARBON FRACTION IN THE PRESENCE OF A DESULFURIZATION CATALYST CONTAINING ESSENTIALLY OF 30-50% BY WEIGHT CHROMIA, 32-60% BY WEIGHT ALUMINA, AND 4-18% BY WEIGHT BERYLLIA, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH CONSISTS PRETREATING SAID CATALYST BY CONTACTING SAID CATALYST AT AN ELEVATED TEMPERATURE WITH A VAPORIZED TREATING MATERIAL CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A SULFUR-CONTAINING COMPOUND SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF MERCAPTANS, THIOPHENES AND THIOPHANES AND SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTING SAID CATALYST WITH SAID HYDROCARBON FRACTION TO BE DESULFURIZED.
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Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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US2687983A (en) * 1953-02-11 1954-08-31 Socony Vacuum Oil Co Inc Catalytic desulfurization of hydrocarbons
US2694671A (en) * 1950-09-01 1954-11-16 Standard Oil Dev Co Selective hydrogenation process
US2697682A (en) * 1949-05-23 1954-12-21 Anglo Iranian Oil Co Ltd Catalytic desulfurization of petroleum hydrocarbons
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US5017535A (en) * 1990-06-20 1991-05-21 Akzo N.V. Process for the preparation of a presulfided and sulfided catalyst

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Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2697682A (en) * 1949-05-23 1954-12-21 Anglo Iranian Oil Co Ltd Catalytic desulfurization of petroleum hydrocarbons
US2694671A (en) * 1950-09-01 1954-11-16 Standard Oil Dev Co Selective hydrogenation process
US2737471A (en) * 1951-06-08 1956-03-06 Socony Mobil Oil Co Inc Hydro-catalytic desulfurization of petroleum oils
US2774718A (en) * 1952-02-19 1956-12-18 Hydrocarbon Research Inc Process for hydrofining a highly olefinic gasoline
US2687983A (en) * 1953-02-11 1954-08-31 Socony Vacuum Oil Co Inc Catalytic desulfurization of hydrocarbons
US2914470A (en) * 1955-12-05 1959-11-24 Sun Oil Co Hydrorefining of petroleum
US2866750A (en) * 1956-11-05 1958-12-30 Exxon Research Engineering Co Pretreatment of cobalt molybdate-on-alumina catalyst
DE1285082B (en) * 1959-04-07 1968-12-12 Air Prod & Chem Process for the selective hydrogenation of diolefins
US3220958A (en) * 1960-09-12 1965-11-30 Universal Oil Prod Co Conversion catalyst preparation
US3441500A (en) * 1966-08-04 1969-04-29 Sinclair Research Inc Process for activating a fixed bed of hydrorefining catalyst
DE2148155A1 (en) * 1970-09-28 1972-03-30 Shell Internationale Research Maat schappij N V , Den Haag (Niederlande) Process for the sulphidation of catalysts for the hydrogenation processing of carbons and their use for the hydrogenation conversion of hydrocarbon oils
US5017535A (en) * 1990-06-20 1991-05-21 Akzo N.V. Process for the preparation of a presulfided and sulfided catalyst

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